LIHU‘E — Blustery weather nor Eastside traffic slowed the effecient delivery of school supplies to thousands of families at Kukui Grove Center Saturday.
The addition of service lanes contributed to the smooth flow of traffic through the drive-thru pickup lanes for the more than 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies at the Back to School Bash at KGC.
Originally scheduled for last week, the Back to School Bash, described by Kukui Grove Center General Manager David Sosner as one of the biggest events held by the center, materialized with the help of numerous community sponsors and volunteers to prepare students for more in-person instruction when schools open on Aug. 3.
In addition to the drive-thru backpack pickup that required a reservation confirmation, the entire shopping center was expanded to include activities, overflow school supplies, entertainment and a clinic offering COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer, Moderno, and Johnson&Johnson by appointments and walk-ins through the collaboration of Wilcox Health, Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation Kaua‘i Region and state Department of Health.
“This is the first time (since the availability of the vaccines) that Wilcox and HHSC have done a clinic outside their respective hospitals,” said Lauren Guest of the state DOH Kaua‘i District Health Office. “The Pfizer vaccine is the one for the young people ages 12 years old and up, and that line has been strong.”
Entertainment like the Chickens — there was a white one and a brown one — and Cruz Control livened up the walkways that were lined with shoppers working hard at maintaining social distancing while aiming to fill their passports by stopping at various activity stations such as the Kaua‘i ‘Ohana Resource Kiosk that had a full staff, including Alice Luck, the CEO and president of the Kaua‘i Planning &Action Alliance.
The Kaua‘i Board of Realtors maintained an “overflow” table containing even more school supplies for those who missed the drive-thru registration and wait list.
Future businesses joined in the excitement by teasing products, like Rose’s Pinoy Favorites, which is scheduled to open its doors on Aug. 1 across from the Premier Martial Arts with cookies flavored with chocolate or purple yams, a face mask and more.
“Grand opening is Aug. 8 at 9 a.m.,” said Rose Marie Garabillo, who welcomed guests with her mother Normita Flores. “The first 30 customers get a gift and discount on purchases.”
Parents laden with backpacks stopped to gaze in the windows of the sealed Paradise Sports that took over the space formerly occupied by Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union that displayed its offerings of sports jerseys and memorabilia in time for the football kickoff.
According to the state Department of Education calendar, teachers report for their first day on Wednesday, July 28. Students report for their first day on Tuesday, Aug. 3, or later that week.
